Ex-Homeschoolers Club

Check out CRHE's Research: https://crhe.org/research/research-resources/
Growing up homeschooled across multiple countries, experiencing homelessness, transitioning into public school, and eventually earning a PhD, Dr. Jonah Stewart has a story unlike most. In this episode, I sit down with Jonah to talk about their unconventional homeschool experience, the challenges of adapting to traditional education, and how those experiences ultimately shaped a career researching education and advocating for homeschool reform through the Coalition for Responsible Home Education (CRHE). We also discuss ADHD, social development, college, and why every homeschool story is unique.

Key Takeaways

• Dr. Jonah Stewart shares what it was like being homeschooled across the U.S. and Australia.
• How Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) curriculum shaped—and limited—their learning experience.
• The difficult transition from homeschooling to public school during a period of family instability.
• Living with ADHD and discovering learning strategies that actually worked.
• Why social development is just as important as academic success.
• The mission of the Coalition for Responsible Home Education and why responsible oversight matters.
• Lessons learned from college, graduate school, and building an independent adult life.

Resources Mentioned

• Coalition for Responsible Home Education (CRHE)
• Accelerated Christian Education (ACE)
• Duke University

Listener Question

Have you ever transitioned from homeschooling into public or private school? What was the biggest surprise for you? Share your story in the comments!

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Chapters

00:00 Welcome to the Ex-Homeschoolers Club

01:21 Jonah Homeschool Background

03:22 Curriculum and Daily Routine

08:22 How Our Parents Built Structure with ADHD Students

11:29 Did You Find Homeschool Community or was it Isolating

16:15 Why did you Switch to Public School

19:20 Adjusting to Public School

25:53 Finding Stability and Good Teachers

32:04 The Different Forms of Intelligence and Social Skills

35:57 Launching into Independence and College

39:25 Leaving Home Reality Check

43:31 Hiding Homeschool Roots

44:24 Stereotypes and Self Proof

49:40 Reinvention in Grad School

50:28 Coming Out and Finding Belonging

55:42 Turning 30 Confidence Shift

01:00:49 Finding CRHE and Purpose

01:05:54 Research Gaps and Regulation

01:12:58 Key Studies to Read

01:19:39 Future Research Questions

01:26:05 Why Lived Experience Matters

01:28:35 Wrap Up and Resources